FBI New Orleans Division News Release:

Lake Charles Doctor Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Health Care Fraud

U.S. Attorney’s OfficeDecember 17, 2013

Western District of Louisiana(318) 676-3641

LAFAYETTE, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that Dr. Lynn E. Foret, 64, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard T. Haik to 12 months in prison and three years of supervised release for defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies of close to $1 million. He was ordered serve 12 months of home confinement with the use of electronic monitoring while on supervised release and also ordered to pay $878,328.98 restitution and a $25,000 fine. Foret pleaded guilty April 18, 2013.

According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, from 2003 to 2009, Foret injected his patients’ knees with a steroid solution while falsely billing and receiving payments from Medicare, Medicai,d and private insurance companies for a more costly drug called Hyalgan. During the time period outlined in the bill of information, he received reimbursements totaling $878,328.98. Foret is a Lake Charles medical doctor who had specialized in orthopedic surgery since 1976. He closed his practice in December 2012.

Various types of steroids are often used to treat osteoarthritis of the knee. Hyalgan is another more costly type of medication that is used to treat osteoarthritis. It contains a natural substance called hyaluronate, which is normally found in the fluid that lubricates and cushions knee joints and is injected directly into a patient’s knee to relieve inflammation.

“This defendant used his trusted position as a physician to steal,” Finley stated. “He lied about the treatments he administered and drained money from private insurers and federal programs intended for those in need who depend on health care. The agencies and prosecutors who worked in this case are to be commended for their outstanding work in uncovering this fraud.”

The FBI, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the Louisiana State Attorney General’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly P. Uebinger prosecuted the case.